A great season recently has gotten a little bit better for 13-year-old Conner Jones, who has been declared the 2019 INEX Virginia State Young Lions champion.
The native of Fredericksburg, Va., was remarkably consistent this year. He earned six victories in the Young Lions division of Legends car competition, 12 runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes in 45 starts. For those doing the math, Jones finished on the podium in 44 percent of his races this year.
“I’m proud to be the Virginia State Young Lions champion,” Jones said. “We really wanted to win the Virginia State championship this season. That was our goal and it’s so cool that we were able to do it. We finished on the podium a ton and that really helped us win the championship. I couldn’t be happier.”
This weekend Jones will look to expand on his successful year by tackling the INEX Legends Asphalt Nationals, which are being held at Bobby Watson’s Carteret County Speedway in Swansboro, N.C.
“They say they’re expecting more than 130 cars across all the divisions, so the competition should be really strong,” Jones said. “We’ve been really competitive all year and this is another great chance to get a trophy to bring home to Virginia.”
In addition to race his Legends car, Jones has been getting his feet wet by racing a limited late model for Lee Faulk Racing and Development. In limited starts with the team, Jones has earned a podium and three top-five finishes.
In addition to the INEX Legends Asphalt Nationals, Jones has a few more Legends car races on his calendar before he ventures to Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Speedway for Myrtle Beach 400 weekend on Nov. 15-16, where he’ll get back behind the wheel of his Lee Faulk Racing and Development limited late model.
“It’s been so fun learning about the late models with the guys from LFR,” said Jones. “They’re bringing me along at my pace and making sure I soak everything in and learn with every lap. I’m looking forward to getting to Myrtle Beach to race. I’ve never raced there but I’ve heard a lot about the place, so I can’t wait to get on track and give it my best shot.”
MPM PR
Follow us on Twitter @SpeedwayDigest
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)